In the deadline-driven world of television news, reliability and flexibility are essential ingredients for any audio console. At KVBC-TV Channel 3, an NBC affiliate station serving greater Las Vegas, the that fact drove the decision to replace the analog console in its news production studio with a Studer OnAir 3000 digital broadcast desk. The move was part of a full audio and video facilities update in preparation for the station’s transition to high-definition broadcasting that will begin later this year.

Owned by Sunbelt Communications, KVBC-TV currently broadcasts a total of six hours of live news coverage per weekday. The station also provides a 10 PM news program to the local CW affiliate. "Since these shows involve a variety of external sources and in-studio talent," explains KVBC chief engineer Guranik, "the OnAir 3000's ability to store and recall console setups and I/O configurations will be extremely useful, and will allow our operator to instantly recall a specific layout."

The station’s new OnAir 3000 features 24 on-surface faders and accommodates 16 mic/line sources, eight line-level sources and 24 AES-format digital sources, routing to 16 analog and 24 digital output ports. Another attractive feature in the decision was Studer's "Touch 'n' Action" user interface, which places hardware control elements for important functions in the channel strip, thereby dramatically simplifying user operation. A color touch screen above every fader module displays all relevant settings and configurations for each related channel, putting all of important functions just one finger stroke away, with virtually instant access.

"Obviously, for our all-digital HD operation, we are looking for an all-digital audio signal path," Guranik stresses. "The cost-effective combination of Studer sound quality, service reputation, full assignability of inputs and outputs, and total recall of all system settings will be a definite advantage for our upgraded news operation. It's an exciting opportunity for our staff to offer the very best sound quality for our Las Vegas viewers."